Telchin atymnius futilis ( Walker, 1856 )

Berghe, Eric Den, 2020, Synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) from Honduras and Nicaragua, Central America, Zootaxa 4895 (2), pp. 272-284 : 274-275

Telchin atymnius futilis ( Walker, 1856)

( Fig. 1C )

Castnia futilis Walker, 1856: 1581 [ Nicaragua].

Castnia salasia Boisduval, 1875:529 [ Mexico].

Castnia atymnius var. α; Westwood, 1877:172 [ Colombia, Nicaragua].

Castnia atymnius var. γ; Westwood, 1877:172 [ Nicaragua, Santa Martha, Guatemala, Mexico].

Castnia atymnius Dalman ; Druce, 1883:25.

Castnia futilis Walker ; Druce, 1883:26, lam. IV, fig. 5. Druce (1883) cites Nicaragua as both Castnia atymnius and Castnia futilis , considering them as two different species.

Castnia futilis Walker, Druce, 1896:320 [ Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama]

Castnia futilis Walker ; Butler, 1900:191.

Castnia humboldti f. brunneata Strand, 1913 [ Honduras].

Castnia atymnius f. defasciata Strand, 1913 [ Panama].

Castniomera futilis (Walker) , Miller, 1995:135.

Castniomera atymnius futilis (Walker) ; Lamas, 1995:80.

Castniomera atymnius ssp. futilis (Walker) ; Maes, 1999:1237.

Castniomera atymnius futilis, Chacón & Montero, 2007 : pl 23.

Telchin atymnius futilis (Walker) ; González & Hernández-Baz, 2012:149.

Telchin atymnius futilis (Walker) ; González & Domagala, 2019:12-13.

Telchin atymnius ssp. futilis (Walker) ; Maes & Hernandez, 2016:301-302.

Telchin atymnius ssp. futilis (Walker) ; Debrix & Maes, 2016:118.

This ssp. is very common in Mexico and Central America ( Miller 2000, González 2008, González & Hernández-Baz 2012). It is frequently associated with Musa spp. ( Musaceae ) and sometimes with Saccharum officinarum L. ( Poaceae ) on which it could be a pest ( Miller 2000; González et al. 2010). This ssp. is the most common Castniidae in Nicaragua, and perhaps in Honduras as well. They exhibit territorial behavior, are very agile and fast flyers. They are typically diurnal and are active around noon. They are frequently found perching on Musaceae in bright sunlight.

Material examined: HONDURAS: 1 Ƌ, Ensel col., C.M.Acc. 2435, Castnia ?, ( CMNH); Ensel col., C.M.Acc. 2436, Castnia ?, ( CMNH); 1 Ƌ, San Pedro Sula, Strecker col. 47504, FMNH-INS, 0000 041 478 ( FMNH); 1 Ƌ, Troxila, F.C. Nicholas ( AMNH); 1 Ƌ, El Pino, 18 km W, 100m, 3 km S, La Ceiba, 12.I.1974, col. R. Lehman, 15°41’38”N, 86°54’6”W, CURLALep04144 ( CURLA); 1 Ƌ, Atlántida, San Esteban, 20.II.1994, no col., CURLA-Lep04145 ( CURLA); 1 Ƌ, La Ceiba, 9 km East, 5 m, 28.XII.1994, col. R. Lehman, 15°46’30”N, 86°44’12”W, CURLALep04146 ( CURLA); 1 Ƌ, Olancho, San Esteban, 15°12´4”N, 85°46´1”W, 8. VI.1994, col. R. Lehman, CURLALep04147 ( CURLA); 1 Ƌ, Atlántida, La Ceiba, 12 km West, 26.VII.1996, col. R. Lehman, CURLALep04148 ( CURLA); 1 Ƌ, Atlántida, La Ceiba, Río bonito CURLA camp 8km W, 5 km S., 15°42”N, 86°50´49”W, 150 m, 31.VIII.1997, col. R. Lehman,, CURLALep04149 ( CURLA); 1 Ƌ, Atlántida, La Ceiba, Río bonito CURLA camp 8km W, 5 km S., 15°42’6”N, 86°50´49”W, 150m, 16. V.2009, col. F. Martínez, CURLALep04150 ( CURLA); 1 ♀, Atlántida, Rio Bonito CURLA camp 8km w 5 km S La Ceiba; 15°42´05.84”N, 86°50´48.76”W, 150 m, 21. VI.2009; F. Martínez,, CURLALep04151 ( CURLA); 1 ♀, Choluteca, San Marcos de Colón, 8.IX.1996, col. I. Anduray ( UNAH); 1 Ƌ, Atlántico, Parque Nacional Pico Bonito, Estación CURLA, 16°42´07”N 86°60´48”W 186 m, 4. VI.2001, col. F. Martinez, 69.361 EAPZ ( EAPZ); Francisco Morazan, Zamorano 13°59´42.58”N, 86°59´13.62”W 757m 15.VII.2016 E. van den Berghe. seen Flying at noon; 1 Ƌ, Prepared By J.G. Grundel ( CAS); 1 Ƌ, Siguatepeque, (UNACIFOR); NICARAGUA: 1 Ƌ, Nueva Segovia, Cerro Jesus, 13°57´47.12”N, 86°10´17.51”W, 988m, 15. V.2018 leg E. van den Berghe, Perching completely exposed to the sun, at noon ( EVDB); 2 ƋƋ, Nueva Segovia, Cerro Jesus, 13°58´11.74”N, 86°10´41.96”W, 1090m, 20. VI.2017 leg E. van den Berghe, active at noon ( EVDB); 1 Ƌ, Jinotega. Kilambe, 13°33´15.13”N, 85°41´37.26”W, 1111m, 7. VI.2013 leg van den Berghe, active at noon (photo EVDB); 1 Ƌ, Jinotega: Santa Maura, 13°10´10.247”N, 85°52´0.713”W, 1126 m, 7.VII.2017 col. Jeremie Lapeze ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Jinotega: Santa Maura: Estación Biológica, 13°10´4.92”N, 85°51´39.62”W, 1170 m, 13. V.2017 col. Jeremie Lapeze ( MEL); 1 ♀, Jinotega: Santa Maura,, 85°52´0.713”N, 13°10´10.247”W, 1126 m, 15. VI.2017 col. Jeremie Lapeze ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Jinotega: El Gobiado, IX.2006, col. J.M. Maes ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Chinandega: Volcán Casita, 1.VII.1995, col. J.M. Maes & J. Hernández ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Chinandega: Volcán Casita,, trampa 18, cafetal montoso + arboles, 12.678901° N, 86.933588° W, 582 m, 30. VI.2017 col. J.M. Maes ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Managua: Las Nubes, 12°00´N, 86°17´W, 690 m, 10.I.1998, col. J.M. Maes, J. Tellez & J. Hernández ( MEL); 2 Ƌ, Managua: Reserva Silvestre Privada Montibelli, IV.2001, col. J.M. Maes ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Masaya: La Concha: RSP El Nisperal, 11.950969° N, 86.239660° W, 700 m, 21.VII.2017, col. Kevin Gauthier ( MEL); 2 Ƌ, Carazo, San Marcos vic. Cruz Negra, 11°55´15.69”N, 86°10´45.46”W, 448m, 15.VIII.2010, leg E. van den Berghe, active at noon (photo EVDB); 2 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Carazo, San Marcos vic. Finca las Orquídeas, 11°54´49.74”N, 86°10´59.33”W, 487m, 12.VIII.2013, leg E. van den Berghe, active at noon ( EVDB); 1 ♀, Granada, Volcán Mombacho. 11°49´58.27”N, 86°00´05.83”, 467m, 1.X.2007, leg van den Berghe, active at noon ( EVDB); 1 Ƌ, Rivas: Veracruz “ T 15”, 11°25.104 N, 85°53.189 W, 16.XI.2013, forest fragmented with plantain, rice and corn crops, col. J.M. Maes ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Rivas: Tola “ T 16-TR-1B”, 11°22.698 N, 85°56.698, W, 16 m, 13.IV.2014, riparian tacotal, col. J.M. Maes ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, Rivas: Ometepe island, 15.VIII.1989, col. F. Reinboldt ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, RACS ( RAAS): Rio Grande de Matagalpa: Boca de Piedra, 13.009661 N, 84.449055 W, 79 m, 22. V.2015, Trampa 17, col. J.M. Maes & B. Hernández ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, RACS ( RAAS): Rio Grande de Matagalpa: Boca de Piedra, 13.01685 N, 84.44363 W, 61 m, 23. V.2015, Trampa 2, col. J.M. Maes & B. Hernández ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, RACS ( RAAS): Rio Grande de Matagalpa: Siksikwas, 13.084292 N, 84.29109 W,. 29 m, 24. V.2015, Trampa 17, col. J.M. Maes & B. Hernández ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, RACS ( RAAS): Rio Grande de Matagalpa: Palpunta: Potrero 2, 13.030292 N, 84.441475 W, 58 m, Trampa 2, 22.IX.2015, col. J.M. Maes & B. Hernández ( MEL); 2 Ƌ, RACS ( RAAS): Rio Grande de Matagalpa: Palpunta, 13.007281 N, 84.41774 W, a 75 m, 7. VI.2016, col. A. Debrix ( MEL); 1 Ƌ, RACS: Atlántida. Rio Pejibay 11°27´04.47”N 83°53´02.26”W, 27m, 2.XII.2013, leg E. van den Berghe, active at noon ( EVDB); 1 Ƌ, Granada: Nandaime: Cielos y Praderas, 11.701203 N, 86.05727 W specimen collected with entomological net in “sector de la Reserva enmallada,” 12. VI.2015, col. J.M. Maes. (specimen is highly damaged).

Figures

FIGURE 1: Giant butterfly-moths (Lepidoptera: Castniidae) from Honduras and Nicaragua. A. Ƌ, Telchin cacica procera (Boisduval, [1875]), Morazán, Honduras (UNAH, Honduras); B. Ƌ, Telchin atymnius drucei (Schaus, 1911), Honduras (Streck- er Collection, FMNH, Chicago, USA); C. ♀, Telchin atymnius futilis (Walker, 1856), Atlántida, Honduras (CURLA, Honduras); D. Ƌ, Telchin evalthe viryi (Boisduval, [1875]), Honduras (Strecker Collection, FMNH, Chicago, USA); E. Ƌ, Telchin diva diva (Butler, 1870), Carazo, Nicaragua (MEL, Nicaragua); F. Ƌ, Telchin licus microsticta (Rothschild, 1919), Atlántida, Honduras (CURLA); G. Ƌ, (Type), Athis inca inca Walker, 1854, Honduras (NHMUK, London); H. Ƌ, Athis clitarcha (Westwood, 1877), Atlántida, Honduras (CURLA); I. ♀, Prometheus zagraea salvina (Westwood, 1877), Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua (EVDB). Scale: 10 mm.